5 Trick-or-Treat Rules Pennsylvania Towns Enforce That Surprise Newcomers

Trick-or-treat night can look the same on every street, but the rules behind it don’t always match.

Pennsylvanians who’ve just moved may find that hours and limits depend on their borough or township.

Here are the town rules worth knowing before the doorbells start ringing.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Curfew hours and trick-or-treat times are subject to change, so check with your borough or township.

1. Autumn 8 P.M. Curfew

Trick-or-treat in Matamoras Borough, Pike County, runs into an autumn curfew that starts at 8:00 p.m.

From Oct. 1 through Nov. 2, the borough bars anyone under 18 from streets, alleys, parks and other public places after that hour.

The curfew lasts until 6 a.m.

The rest of the year, the same curfew doesn’t begin until 11:00 p.m.

That’s three hours earlier than usual.

If your teens are out that night, they need to be off the streets by 8:00 p.m.

If you let a child break it, you can face a fine of up to $300 and costs after a second violation.

2. Age-Based Curfew Hours

Trick-or-treat hours in Hanover Borough, York County, depend on a child’s age under a 1992 ordinance.

Three age tiers apply.

Children 11 and under must be in by 10:00 p.m., ages 12 and 13 by 10:30 p.m., and ages 14 through 17 by 11:00 p.m.

If you’re out with a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old, you’re working with 10:30 and 11:00 p.m. cutoffs.

The curfew runs all year, so it applies on Halloween like any other night.

A special permit from the mayor, carried by the minor, can excuse that child from the curfew.

As a parent, you can face a $25 penalty for a first offense, rising by $25 for each later one.

After more than three violations by a minor, the ordinance says the mayor reports the matter to juvenile authorities.

3. Extendable 10 P.M. Curfew

Trick-or-treat in Economy Borough, Beaver County, sits inside a 10 p.m. curfew that can bend.

The curfew runs all year, not only in October.

The borough code lets the mayor, or a designated police officer when the mayor is away, extend the curfew hour in writing for special occasions.

If you’re hoping for a later Halloween, look for that written extension first.

4. 90-Minute Window

South Strabane Township, Washington County, allots trick-or-treat just 90 minutes this year.

The 2026 announcement sets Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

It was posted on Sept. 23.

If you’re planning costumes, have them on before 5:30.

Ninety minutes, start to finish.

5. Early Trick-or-Treat Night

Trick-or-treat across the Centre Region lands on Thursday, Oct. 29, with a rain date of Friday, Oct. 30.

According to statecollege.com, the date moves ahead of Halloween because Halloween falls on a Penn State home football weekend, with traffic, parking, pedestrian safety and emergency response cited.

The schedule covers State College Borough plus College, Ferguson, Halfmoon, Harris and Patton townships.

If you’re handing out candy, have the porch light on by 6 p.m. Thursday.

Guidance, Not Law

The City of Lancaster follows guidance from the Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee on trick-or-treat rather than a city ordinance.

The committee recommends Saturday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., a policy it adopted in 2022 as a recommendation only.

The city’s separate curfew for minors under 18 runs all year, at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

If you’re taking a child under 12, go along, since children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.

Rain or Shine

Jackson Township, Lebanon County, holds trick-or-treat on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., rain or shine.

Only severe or extreme weather changes the plan, and the notice went up in August.

That’s the same 6 to 8 p.m. window the Centre Region uses.

If your costume is made of paper, pack a raincoat to go over it.

Porch Light Requests

Trick-or-treat in Springhill Township, Fayette County, set for Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m., comes with a small request.